Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022
Vol. 15, No. 11
Dec. 22, 2022
Opelika, Alabama
FRED ERi CK-DEAN Covering Lee County, Alabama
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334-745-4667 On-site Crematory Coming Soon
EACB Stages The Nutcracker
AUBURN — “The Nutcracker” ballet, a production of the East Alabama Community Ballet, was presented in four performances at Auburn University’s Telfair Peet Theatre Dec. 9 through 11. There was a special children’s performance entitled “Clara’s Tea Party” presented at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10. The cast was comprised of students from multiple dance studios in the Auburn and Opelika area. The cast consisted of preschool dancers through high school students and included two professional dancers from the Atlanta Ballet. The production was choreographed by local dance teachers. The cast began rehearing in September. The production is an annual event that is hosted each December by the East Alabama Community Ballet. For more photos of the production, turn to A3.
JEREMY GRAY CONTRIBUTED BY MILLENIAL ACTION PROJECT
Live United
United Way Celebrates Renovations PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
OPELIKA — The United Way of Lee County is celebrating the holidays early with a few upgrades to its headquarters on Executive Park Drive. According to Tipi Miller, executive director of the local United Way, the interior and exterior upgrades aim to benefit both staff and visitors to the office. “We are thrilled with the renovations to the United Way building,” Miller said. “The building has served many United Way agencies and programs since 1997. The changes provide a welcome atmosphere for
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
PHOTOS BY JOHN HILLSMAN / FOR THE OBSERVER
BY JOHN HILLSMAN FOR THE OBSERVER
Rep. Jeremy Gray Awarded for Transcending Political Polarization in 2022
visitors and staff.” The renovations were celebrated Dec. 15 with a
ribbon cutting ceremony, courtesy of the Opelika Chamber of Commerce.
The event was attended by United Way staff, Auburn See UNITED, page A5
Severe Freeze Warning
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Millennial Action Project (MAP) announced last week the awardees of the 2022 Rising Star Awards. The Rising Star Awards recognize lawmakers who embody MAP's mission to transcend political polarization through public service. The fifth annual Rising Star Award was presented to Alabama State Rep. Jeremy Gray (D) and Arkansas State Rep. Aaron Pilkington (R). Both representatives are co-chairs of the Future Caucus in their respective states. The Future Caucus is a bipartisan caucus that convenes young and innovative legislators from both sides of the aisle to work on the issues facing Gen Z, Millennials and future generations. Gray represents state House District 83 in Alabama. He is the Democratic co-chair of the Alabama Future Caucus. Through the Future Caucus, he has consistently demonstrated bipartisan leadership, working across the aisle alongside his young Republican colleagues to help pass impactful policy, including legislation that lifted the 28-year ban on yoga in Alabama’s K-12 schools. Gray serves as the Minority Whip in the Alabama House of Representatives. Recently, he was nominated by Alabama’s Gov. Kay Ivey to serve on the Alabama Statewide Health Coordinating Council and Innovate Alabama. The awards reception was held on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute. It was an evening to remember with special guests Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT), co-chair of MAP’s Congressional Future Caucus; along with Robby Soave and Briahna Joy Gray, co-hosts of “Rising” on The Hill TV. “We're better than where we were 50 years ago, and we're going to be in a better place 50 years from today because of the people in this See GRAY, page A2
The National Weather Service has placed Lee County in a hard freeze warning from Thursday night, Dec. 22 until Christmas morning. Lee County is additionally under a wind chill watch from Dec. 22 until Friday, Dec. 23. This watch could be upgraded to a warning should the wind chill reach between 0 degrees and -12 degrees.
CONTENTS
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OPINION ................. A4 ENTERTAINMENT ...... A7 RELIGION .............. A12 OBITUARIES ........... A13 COMICS .................. A16
SPORTS ................... B1 POLITICS ................. B9 PUBLIC NOTICES ..... B12 CLASSIFIEDS .......... B13 PUZZLES ................ B14